Feminist Approaches to Humanitarian Action
A Guidance Note on Applying Feminist Approaches to Humanitarian Action was published in July 2024. This paper explores the potential of feminist principles to enhance humanitarian systems in addressing key priorities. While feminist frameworks are embedded in UN policies and support areas like gender-based violence prevention and gender mainstreaming, they are less prevalent in broader humanitarian strategies. Challenges arise from systemic issues that hinder transformative change, as feminist principles are often limited to technical interventions rather than structural reform. To address this gap, the paper highlights the need for feminist approaches in leadership, coordination, and donor engagement, while emphasizing the importance of empowering affected communities, particularly women, in humanitarian leadership.